Cairns Taipans player Jackson Makoi charged with domestic violence offences

A National Basketball League (NBL) player has been arrested and charged following allegations of domestic violence. Cairns Taipans guard, Jackson Makoi, was arrested by New South Wales Police in Sydney on Saturday night, just hours before he was due to play in an NBL game.

New South Wales Police stated that officers from the Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team were investigating an alleged assault that occurred in Oxley Park, western Sydney, in November 2023. A spokeswoman said, "About 5.45pm on Saturday, January 11, 2025, officers attended a hotel at Sydney Olympic Park and arrested a 24-year-old man on an outstanding arrest warrant."

Makoi was taken to Auburn Police Station and charged with common assault and strangulation. He was refused bail and was scheduled to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday. A spokeswoman for the Taipans said Makoi would be "unavailable" for the team's game against the Sydney Kings on Sunday afternoon.

An NBL spokesperson said the matter has been referred to Basketball Australia's integrity unit and declined to comment further. Makoi represented South Sudan at the Paris Olympics last year. The point guard played limited minutes as South Sudan won their opening group game but were eliminated after losses to the USA and Serbia.

Makoi previously played for the Sydney Kings for two seasons before being released last year. He signed a one-year contract with the Taipans before the start of this season and has appeared in 11 games.